Nature is my partner in working with clients.
During a coaching call earlier this year, one of my clients was wrestling with the painful thought “I am different.”
This thought has been with her for as long as she can remember. It’s part of her identity and it “causes a lot of suffering” (her words).
For this particular session, I was sitting in my office and she was sitting in her car at the park where she goes for privacy during our sessions.
As we discussed this thought “I am different” I asked her who she would be if she couldn’t even think that thought anymore. (This question is part of The Work, a Byron Katie tool I use sometimes, because it offers clients a way into gently questioning their thoughts.)
This client admitted it felt very scary to just “lose” this thought. “It’s been part of me for so long. But I think I would just…be me. Minimal fear. More creativity.”
As she finished her thought, she gasped out loud.
“This is so interesting, I wish you could see what’s happening right now, where I’m sitting. It’s the same spot we always talk in since the first time I called you and it’s neat because the seasons are different now. All these really great, beautiful trees that used to be filled in, and now it’s just the bare branches. Everything looks very dark, kind of grey today. And there’s been some birds circling around while we’ve talked that are black, dark birds. And I’m not even kidding you, once we talked through removing that fear and that feels scary, four really bright blue birds just flew in and landed in front of me! I’m not even kidding you! And now a couple of red Cardinals! This whole time everything’s been very gloomy in front of me and most of the birds have been the dark brown and black today. And now, it’s just it’s crazy! These bright red and blue birds!”
I asked, “So what do those birds represent? What is their message?”
“It’s this color coming in,” she said. “It’s like this…if you remove the thought I am different, I feel like that thought has completely just almost locked up who I am. Prevented me from being who I truly should be because it just put this great cloud over everything. Suddenly, there is an endless possibility. It’s okay to be different! There’s this endless possibility of potential for me. Creativity and no fear and living life without worry. It’s like a window that just opens and birds just fly out!”
When I say Nature is my partner, I MEAN IT.
These birds showed up to provide an opening for this client. To show her what was possible. And to transform this painful thought “I am different” into a celebration “I am DIFFERENT!!!!”
Gentle reader…you don’t have to believe everything you think. But if you do, it’s worth reshaping the thoughts that cause you suffering into ones that offer you radically new possibilities! 😁
And PS: I got permission from my client to share this story from her private coaching session.
Warmly,
Angie
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
P.S. For the rest of 2023, you have individual and group options to work with me!
#1 → Three hours together in nature, slowing down, pondering, listening, hearing your inner wisdom + Truth. It’s called “An Outside Perspective.” CLICK HERE to schedule.
#2 → Three months together where we’ll dive DEEP into what you’re tolerating and WHY, and transform one or two specific areas of life from “meh” to MARVELOUS. CLICK HERE to schedule time to talk with me.
#3 → Six months together in a Quest to resolve the gap between your outwardly successful-looking but internally unsatisfying life (professionally and/or personally) because this internal itchiness you feel can’t go on. CLICK HERE to schedule time to chat.
GROUPS!
Forest Therapy Experiences (September thru December). Click here to learn more and to reserve your spot. Limited to 12 per session.
PAN Outdoor Gatherings (September thru December). These small group experiences (PAN stands for Pause/Awareness/Nature) merge the power of Coaching + Wayfinding with the power of Nature’s elements. Dates + locations TBA soon! Limited to 10 per session.